Microlight solidarity: the FFPLUM mobilised in the face of flooding

At the beginning of February 2021, several rivers flooded: the Dordogne, the Maronne and the Garonne. The Garonne flood caused a great deal of damage at some of our microlight clubs. The FFPLUM is mobilised to deal with this bad weather.

Major material damage

Some of our clubs managed to avoid disaster just in time. Christian Santini, of the Réole microlight club, explained to us that “the microlights could be moved once we realised the water could do serious damage”. However, other equipment could not be saved: “we have 8.33 radios for the students, our furniture, even the verandas… everything was hit, both administratively and logistically. ” On Tuesday evening there was still more than 20 cm of mud in their buildings.

The Villeton microlight club was also hit, with up to 1.30 m of water in the premises. The machines were only partly affected thanks to the club members’ foresight. Some microlights were damaged but can be repaired.

The Villeton hangars under water © Philippe Madphil

Microlights hit

Other clubs were not lucky enough to be able to anticipate this sudden and uncontrollable rise in water. The Parascendance Paramoteur club saw the water rise to 2 m in the hangars. Forecasts had indicated up to 1.20 m. The precautions taken by raising the machines were not enough. 4 machines were affected, and all the club’s tools became unusable.

The other organisation hit is the Fourques microlight strip. Created in the early 90s, this training club was also very badly hit by the Garonne flood. All its machines, even those raised up, could not withstand water rising to over 1.60 m. Its premises, which hosted instructor refresher courses every month, are now unusable.

A weight-shift microlight, engine in the water © Fourques microlight strip

Microlight solidarity and the Federation in action

These many accounts of devastation have touched many microlight pilots, starting with many members of the Federation. Regional Committees are going to provide financial help to the badly hit clubs. This help is being collected by the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Committee, which will redistribute it to the clubs affected.

Pierre Pouchès, of the CNFTE (National Microlight Technical Training and Testing Centre), went to the site on Wednesday 10 February 2021, once the water level had dropped. He then rolled up his sleeves with members of the clubs concerned to put back into working order every machine that could be saved. All the repairs were carried out while the pumps were still clearing water and mud from the hangars.

For its part, the Federation and its Insurance team are hard at work to make the administrative procedures easier for the clubs affected. The Federation’s Executive Board has also decided on financial and material help for these 4 clubs.

The Fourques club has set up an online fundraiser, which you can access by clicking here: https://www.leetchi.com/c/ulm-fourques-inondation

Premises devastated by the power of the Garonne © Fourques microlight strip